GMU 328 Naneum
Colockum-herd elk and high-density mule deer on big public ground north of Ellensburg.
Region 3 — Colockum / Kittitas County · Last reviewed 2026-06-03
Area
262
sq mi
Public land
70%
approx.
Elevation
1,700–6,400
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 328 Naneum sits in WDFW District 8 (Region 3) in the Wenatchee Mountains and Colockum foothills of northern Kittitas County (touching Chelan County along Naneum Ridge), spanning roughly 262 square miles from Swauk/Blewett Pass on US 97 east to the Colockum and dropping south toward Ellensburg. It is one of the better general-season big-game units in central Washington, hosting a share of the roughly 3,800-4,000-head Colockum elk herd (known for coveted high-quality bulls) and consistently ranking among the district's top mule deer units for harvest and hunter numbers. The unit is dominated by public land — a mosaic of Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Naneum Ridge State Forest (DNR), and the WDFW Colockum Wildlife Area — managed for motorized access under the Green Dot road system. Country ranges from recovering wildfire-scarred conifer ridges in the north to open grass-and-sage breaks and private ag land in the south.
Terrain
Rolling-to-steep mountains in the north grading to open native grassland breaks and irrigated farmland in the south. The northern half holds several age classes of conifer recovering from past wildfires; south-facing slopes thin to buckbrush, sagebrush, and bunchgrass. Elevation drops sharply southward toward the Kittitas Valley and Ellensburg.
Cover: North: mixed conifer (Douglas-fir, ponderosa, regenerating burns) with brushy recovering stands. Mid-elevation: thinly timbered ridges with buckbrush thickets. South/east: shrubsteppe sagebrush, bunchgrass, and agricultural land (hay, grain) near the valley.
Landmarks: Table Mountain · Naneum Ridge / Naneum Ridge State Forest · Naneum Creek · Mission Peak · Wenatchee Mountain · Blewett Pass (US 97) · Colockum Wildlife Area · Williams Creek
Access
Roughly 70% public — about 31% USFS and 39% state ground (DNR Naneum Ridge State Forest plus the WDFW Colockum Wildlife Area), with the remaining ~30% private. DNR Naneum Ridge State Forest covers about 71,500 acres with roughly 109 miles of Green Dot roads. Motor-vehicle travel on the wildlife-area and DNR lands is governed by the Green Dot system: only roads marked with a round green reflector are legally drivable; all others are closed to vehicles. Green Dot maps are available online, on the DNR mobile map, and at the WDFW Yakima regional office and DNR Southeast Region office in Ellensburg. The southern third near the Kittitas Valley is largely private ag land — get permission. Many roads are primitive; high-clearance and 4WD are advised, especially toward the Colockum.
Managers: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (USFS), WA DNR (Naneum Ridge State Forest), WDFW (Colockum Wildlife Area), Private (ag land in the south)
Access points: US 97 / Swauk-Blewett Pass corridor (northwest boundary) · Naneum Creek road system north out of the Kittitas Valley · Naneum Ridge Rd (WDFW Rd 9) along the Chelan-Kittitas county line · Colockum Pass Rd (WDFW Rd 10) on the east · DNR Naneum Ridge State Forest Green Dot road network · Lower Green Canyon Rd / US 97 (south and west)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityPart of the roughly 3,800-4,000-head Colockum elk herd, which carries a reputation for high-quality bulls — GMU 328 is one of the district's named 'quality bull' (Colockum) hunt areas, and a 2023 winter survey put the herd's bull:cow ratio at about 24:100, exceeding objective and prompting nearly doubled special bull permits. Per the District 8 prospects report, general-season success is modest and opening weekends are crowded, reflecting heavy pressure.
- →Opening weekend is crowded with established camps; for a higher-quality hunt target the last days of modern firearm or the quieter archery/muzzleloader seasons
- →Once seasons open, elk push to higher elevations and away from roads — hunt drainages that hold cover far from Green Dot roads
- →Glass the open grass and sage breaks of the southern/eastern unit at first and last light, then still-hunt timbered north-slope pockets where bulls hold security
- →Use the Colockum and Naneum Ridge high country away from the main road corridors; willingness to walk in is the difference-maker
- →Watch the snowline — early storms shift elk down toward the Naneum and Colockum drainages
Mule Deer
common opportunityConsistently one of District 8's top mule deer units for harvest and hunter numbers (alongside Teanaway, Manastash, Umtanum). Managed under mule deer rules; the area also holds mule-blacktail intergrades. Per the District 8 prospects report, buck harvest in the district rebounded in recent years with more 5-point bucks taken.
- →Glass the open south- and east-facing grass/sage slopes and buckbrush benches at dawn and dusk — terrain that lets you cover ground with optics
- →Early season, deer hold higher in the conifer-fringe and recovering burns where browse is good; they drift lower with snow
- →Hunt the timber-to-sage transition lines and brushy draws as midday bedding security
- →For lower hunter density, climb to the higher elevations away from the camp-clogged road corridors
- →Drought years can suppress harvest — scout for green forage and water before the opener
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears occur in the forested north and west of the unit. Per the District 8 prospects report, GMU 328 sees substantial bear effort but low success — a high-pressure, low-yield bear unit. Bears climb to higher elevations in fall following ripening berries and mast.
- →Scout for fall food: huckleberry patches, other berry-producing brush, and any mast in the higher forested north end
- →Glass burns, clear-cuts, brushy avalanche/forage openings, and meadow edges near water early and late
- →Combine with a deer or elk hunt since most bears are taken opportunistically
- →Do not shoot a sow with cubs — fall females are often trailed by lagging cubs
Cougar
common opportunityDistrict 8 is a popular cougar area thanks to its expansive public land and strong mule deer prey base, and 328's deer density supports resident cats. Most cougars are taken opportunistically by deer and elk hunters carrying a cougar tag; dedicated late hunting after fresh snow can be productive.
- →Hunt areas with the most deer to raise odds of crossing a cat
- →Go early after a fresh snowfall when tracks are easiest to find and follow
- →Carry a cougar tag during general deer/elk seasons for the opportunistic encounter
- →Glass and cut roads/ridges for tracks in the snow-on north end
Pro tips
- →Walk away from the road corridors — both elk and deer success climbs sharply for hunters who get into the high country and cover-laden drainages away from the camp-clogged Green Dot mains
- →Time your trip to a weather front: the first real snow at elevation pushes elk and deer down into the Naneum and Colockum drainages and bunches them up
- →Glass the open southern and eastern grass/sage breaks at first and last light, then still-hunt the timbered north slopes during midday
- →For a less-crowded quality experience, hunt the late part of modern firearm or pick up an archery/muzzleloader tag
- →Download the DNR Naneum Ridge State Forest Green Dot map and the WDFW Hunt Planner web map before losing cell service
Watch out for
- !Green Dot rules are strict: only round-green-reflector roads are legal for motor vehicles on wildlife-area and DNR ground — driving a non-Green-Dot road is a violation
- !The southern third toward the Kittitas Valley is private ag land; verify boundaries and get permission rather than assuming public access
- !Interior and Colockum roads are extremely primitive — high-clearance 4WD recommended, and wet/soft roads should be avoided to prevent damage and getting stuck
- !Recent wildfires have reshaped forage and access in places; a burn can either concentrate or scatter game, so scout current conditions
- !Opening weekend is crowded; expect competition and pre-claimed camps
- !Some elk carry GPS collars/ear tags from herd monitoring — legally harvestable animals are not protected, but avoid damaging and return any collar to WDFW
Logistics
Ellensburg (I-90, just south of the unit) is the practical hub for fuel, groceries, lodging, and the WDFW/DNR map offices; Wenatchee anchors the north end. Access the unit primarily via US 97 / Swauk-Blewett Pass on the west, the Naneum Creek road system out of the Kittitas Valley, and Naneum Ridge Rd (WDFW Rd 9) / Colockum Pass Rd (WDFW Rd 10) on the east. Dispersed camping is allowed on National Forest and DNR Naneum Ridge State Forest ground (subject to fire restrictions). Interior roads are primitive — bring high-clearance/4WD, recovery gear, and don't drive wet roads. Pick up or download the Green Dot map before you go; legal motorized travel is limited to green-dot-marked routes on wildlife-area and DNR lands.
Nearest towns: Ellensburg, Wenatchee, Cle Elum, Kittitas
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW 2024 District 8 Hunting Prospects (GMU 328 elk/deer/bear/cougar harvest & access) · GoHunt Washington Unit 328 Naneum Profile (elevation 1,700-6,400 ft, ~70% public = 31% USFS + 39% state, landmarks) · DNR Naneum Ridge State Forest (71,500 acres, ~109 mi Green Dot roads, hunting near Table Mountain) · WDFW Colockum Wildlife Area (access roads, hunting opportunities, terrain) · eRegulations Washington GMU 328 boundary description (Swauk/Blewett Pass, Naneum Ridge Rd, Colockum Pass Rd)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 328 in Washington?
- GMU 328 (Naneum) covers about 262 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,700 to 6,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 328?
- Approximately 70% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (USFS), WA DNR (Naneum Ridge State Forest), WDFW (Colockum Wildlife Area), Private (ag land in the south). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 328?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 328 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.